Blowpipes



July 7, 1959 c. STEVENTON 2,893,420

BLOWPIPES Filed Nov. 14, 1955 Y 3-Sheets-Sheet 1 l7 l6 P I Inventor finnmfimfilims rzn mr Attorney 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 C. F. STEVENTON BLOWPIPES July 7, 1959 Filed Nov. 14, 1955 United States Patent 2,893,420 BLOWPIPES Charles Frederick Steventon, London, England, assignor to The British Oxygen Company Limited, a British company Application November 14, 1955, Serial No. 546,754

3 Claims. (Cl. 13l---271) Thisinvention relates to blowpipes and more particularly toblowpipes for cuttingmetal by means of a jet of oxidising gas.

Such blowpipes normally comprise a nozzleunit,-'conduits supplying'said nozzle unit with fuel gas for a heating flame and oxidising gas for cutting metal which has been heated, and a hollow body portion surrounding said con-' duits; The nozzle unit usuallyext'ends at an angle, e.g. a-

right angle, to the bodyportion, and the blowpipe is sup ported and positioned by the operator holding the body portion by hand. The supply of fuel gas is controlled by time adjustment screw'valves vwhich are attached to the body portion and which remain set after adjustment, The

oxidising gas is, however, applied intermittently and 'is most conveniently controlled by avalve which is adjusted 'bymeans or a lever pivotally mounted'on the body 'The lever is usually mounted adjacent one end of the body portion and provided with a handle extending gen erally parallel to the axis of the body portion, and thelev'er is operated by gripping movement between the palm and fingers of the operators hand. This-arrangement has the advantage that the operator can control the lever with thehand supporting the blowpipe. I

Previously known-blowpipes have the lever mounted in oneor other of 'fourpositiong namely a forward overslung position with the lever pivoted at the front end of the body portion-of the blowpipe, that is, the end adjacent the nozzle unit, and the handle of the lever extendingrearwards and above the saidbody portion, a rear overslung position with thelever pivoted at th'e rear end of the body portion and the handle extending forwards. and above having forward and rear transverse apertures for the reception of the pivot lug of the level inserted from either one of the two ends of either of said apertures, and the said lug having two pivot points, spaced along its length and adapted to be selectively associated with one of four I separate pivot axes, two in each of said apertures, the

two pivot axes in each aperture being disposed one on each side of the longitudinal axis of said sliding control and the arrangement being such that the handle of the,

lever extends forwards or rearwards when the lug is inserted into either end of the rear or forward apertures respectively and that movement of the handle towards the body portion about the appropriate one of its two.

spaced pivots, with the lever in any one of the four alternative positions, eifects operational engagement between. V the said lug and the said sliding control always to move the latter in the direction to open the valve.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure l is a side view of a blowpipe according to the invention, having the lever controlling the supply of oxidising gas in the rear overslung position;

Figure 2 is a sectional view along the line X-X of, Figure 1 showing the lever in the rear overslung or under slung positions, the fine adjustment valves for the oxidisinggas and fuel gas being omitted;

Figure 3 is a 'sectio'nal view alongthe line"Y-'-Y of- Figure 2 but showing the lever in' the forward overslungposition; r

'Figure 4 is a similar view to Figure 3*but lever in the rear overslung position; and g portion 15 enclosing the rear end the said body portion, a forward undrslungposition a rear underslung position.

'Blowpipe operators generally have their own'personal preterencesregarding the relative positions of the level and the" body portion'of a blowpipe, and as the effect in operating the lever is-fatiguing .over a prolongedperiod of time,it is desirable and has been usual to provide anoperatorwith a blowpipe which suits his own particular preference. f g

' It has -alreadybeen proposed to provide ablowpipe having alever whichmay be-mounted i'n either the forward overslung or the forward underslung' positions and it has "also 'been proposed'to'provide a blowpipe having a leverfwhich may be mounted in either the rear overslung or the rearunderslung positions.

The object of the present invention however isto pro vide' a blowpipe having a lever which may be readily mountedselectively'in any ofthe above mentioned four positions; f l

[According to metal by means of a jetof-oxidis'in'gg'as comprises abodyportion, a valve for controlling-the supply of oxidising gasfa sliding control within'the body portion for opening and closing said valve; and a lever including a handle and apivot lug angularly disposed regard to said handle for movingsaid 'sliding' control, thesaid body portion the invention a blowpipe-tor cutting Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken alongthe line- Referring now to Figure l the blowpipe comprisesanozzle unit 10, conduits 11 and 12 for supplying fuel gas and oxidising gas (to support combustion of the fuel gas) respectively to the nozzle, 9. separate conduit 13 for supplying thecutting stream of oxidising 'gas to the nozzle,

a valve block 14 on which the conduits 11, 12, 1 3 are mounted at their rear ends and a hollow cylindrical body 7 portion of the conduits 11, 12, 13 and the valve block 14. "*5 "f- The valve block 14 has inlet connections, 16 17 f "r' connection to supplies of fuel gas and oxidising gasj respectively and line adjustment valves of which only the control knobs 18 and Bare shown, for controllingthe gas and oxidising gas through the conduits 11 and '12 respectively.

The valve block 14 is also provided with valve means;

H controlling the flow oflcutting oxidising gas fromthe inletll to the conduit 13. As shown in Figure 2,. th'is valve means comprises a closure member 20 biassedf against a co-operating valve seat 21' formed withinj'the valve block" 14, by a coil spring 22; Theclosure mem ber20 and spring 22 are housed within a chamber 23 nuts 29, 30. The rear end of the rod 25 issurrdunded;

formed in the rear end of the valve block 14 and closed by a screw 24 against which one end of the spring 22" abuts. v The valve is positioned with its axis lying parallel to the axis of the body portion but ofisettherefroinas shown in Figure 2, the closure member 20 being bias'sed portion 15. This rod 25 is provided with a screw threaded portion 28 on which are mounted apair of lock Patented July 7, 1959 showing the were slidablewithin a sleeve 31 abuttiri g at ashram end-againstthe lock nuts 29, 30* and closed -at -its rear v end to form a plunger 32, the end of which abuts against the closure member 20. Thesleeve 31 is slidable within an genera in thevalve block 14'. The-irodr25iisfslotted they. nd tag t33fa 'd '3'4 r'espectively Iand-ris provided with hhiesSSQ 36"intrsecting the slots 33 and: 34'lrespectively at ri ghtanglest, The "purpose of 'these 'slots and bores b'e described hereinafter. o

The body portion :15 is "provided with eight axiallya extending slots-. 37 s'ome of which are ShOWIlIlILFigUIflS 1, 3 a'rid ;4; two'ofsaid slots beinguformed immediately ab'ove andbelowthe forward slot 33 in the; rod 25'and two more immediately above and below the rear:slot 34 in lthe rod 25.- The fouriremaining slots37 are formed syinmetricallyin the body portionxlS withirespecrto the first'four slots-37. i Co-operating slots 49 are also provided. intithe valveihlooki :14 andlthe forwardblocknz'l, The

shaped: pivot .l'ug :projecting substantially; at right 1 angles? from the handle. Thearins 40 of thepivot lugare'spaced apart at-Ja'distance equal: to the distance between. az-pair ofatadjacent slotsl-37 on the top surface ofthe-body;por-

tiontliqand eachof the arms ,40; is-provided with a: distal bearing 41 and a root: bearingi42 .for ;the recep;

ti'on of .thenpivot; pins 43, the twovbearings; 4.1 and r42 hammered apart; alqng ithe len t pt-thea m ily distance between adjacent pivot pin mountings 38 irr the fer ard-ble k lf ln ti ne h arm 4 th Pro d with a slotted bearing 44,; intermediate'thebearings 41 The operating lever may be mounted on the body porn a ain any s l f u p t o ,v nm e x e f ra overslung,;,the forward underslurigpthe rear overslung andlthe rear underslung position.

position is illustrated infull lines in Figures 3 and 5. t e QY ELi ar a ged wi h h han 39 rqia ie z t rear,,th two arms40 of the lug. inserted through the .pair 7 atthe forward end ofjthe top surface of the body portion 15 and the armof the, lugIadjaceht to the control means passing through the forward slot '33 in the-rod 25.: l A pin 45 is mounted in the forward .bore35 irith dthe lever is pivoted to the'forward block 27' by the r.of. ,pin s.43. journalled inthe distal bearings; 41' f of the 40 of the lug, the pains being supported. in theappropriate apertures38 in the forwardjbloeklT the. body rtion 115 "as indicated injFigurei, afCce'sgTto the pfbt pins i43,,ro,d 2'5, etc. being"btainedfbysliding are bioek'zv out, of'theibody'portion '15., 'Upon nt, of; the lever towards thebody portion '15; the arm. Q'Of the'lug passing th'ro'ugh'the slot 33 'intthe r 31 2 5 uses the pin 45 to drive the red 25111 a rear- 9,( 3, to drivethe s1eeve31 the'sarneldirection can of the spring 22; In order'to'limitl'the uts" 22,;39 are'adiusted ohtheithfrje'aded ortion'zs 25' set that theend "or "the pluhgerjSZj i u's erisat'its;

Ihe lever in; the forward underslung position is s hdw n iiifdii'tte'diliiies' in Fig'u're 3'; 'In this position the lever is arrangemwithits handle ssexteqdin o the, rear and, hew were bfzt e 1 sf ts; 'r s the as: s lotsl atth tm' d. d ifh ba ten! rr ce th T e" lever is pivoted" y pins body; portion 15-,

eoperatmg-lever mounted in .the forward'overslung.

rodZS passing through the bearing 44 in thefarm d rection. s This movementifin rum eaase g h locks lunger 32'opensjthe' closure tneniberlil' 'jo'urn alled in the distal bearings 41 of the 40, the lpins.i.43w beingsupported in. thehappropriate .apertures 38.v

in the forward block 27. Movement of the handle 39 towards the body portion 15 effects rearward motion of the closure member 20, as already described with respect to the operation of the lever in the forward overslung position. 7 4

The lever mounted in the rear overslung position is shown in full lines andin'th'efre'ar u'nderslung position in dot and dash lines in Figure The mounting .and operation "of theflever is the same 'as fonthe two c'orresponding forward positions with" the "exception that the pins 43 are journalled in the root bearings "4215f 'the arms 40 of the lever lug; in order 'to eifect rearward motion of the rod 2 5. The valveblock 14 may be slid out of the body-portion'15to allow'access to the pivot pins 43.

Since in the forward overslung position, the pressure forcingthe lever towards; the .body portion 15, .to openithe oxidising gasvalve means is-normally exerted by the thumb of the operator, extended depression of the lever to the fully operated=eposition may be very thing and means are therefore provided for locking the lever inthe fully 'operated position, that is. with thevalve. means fully open-. These rnean s,.,comprise;*a -member 46 slidably.

mountedrupon the handle 39andafinger 47 integral there with; and'extendingbeneath and in the same direction as thefree end ofthehandle 39; When the lever-is in the fully operated position, the member 46 is moved along the handle until the finger '47 engages in a-pocket 48 mounted.

on the upperlsurface of .theibodyportion 15;

I claim:

1 In a blowpipe ihaving a -body-portionprovidinga;

handfgrip, a yalveblock having a valve chamber provided with a valve seat, a closure member movable in said valve chamber and havi-ng a portion .co-operating with said valve seat, an elongated control :rod for operating said closure member and reversible means for'operating saidcontrol .rod,,the combinationhof means mounting said slots inthe control rod and also having two axis pin mounting holes transverse to said openings at each end thereof and disposed one on each side of the control rod, a hand 'lever havingv a lug part extending'through one ofsaidopenings inthe body portion-and through a slot in the control rod, saidh SIIaI i having a pivot pin, slot therein for registering with said pivot pin mounting-hole inthe control rod and anraxis pinhole on eachside'of said pivot pin hole for registeringwith an; axis;p in mounting hole in the body,v a removable, axis pin for detachably pivoting said lug-part to. said body and a, removablepivot pin for detaohablypivoting said lugpart to said'control rod.

2. In a valve assembly having a'valve block'containing a valve chamber provided with a valve seat, a valve membermova'ble intsaid chamber and having a portion cooperating with-said gvalveseat, a manually graspable body part coextensive withssaid .valve block, and an. elongated valve actuator; and reversible: means, for operating said actuator t e v =c t lzi at t o m an d b unt id valve actuator within said bpdy parhsaid' actuator having a, through slot adjacent each end, andna transverse pivot ping. mounting ole intersecting each slotitransversely, and aidt hodvrarta avin op o ope i t t n s which are in register with said slots at the respective ends f, thea a q and al g ns ax P m un ngh l ra sver an op n n s ldid sp d t =1 s of said actuaton'a'hand lever, atlug on said hand-l ever which tend t r ushabqe it s ev n n s ni t bQdYl Pa and h o the lot' n theval e equa r g s e w f nenine; s i u avin sa Pivot p l t or re i t r with qne of the givot p n monntingholes inthe valve w,

tuator and an axis pin hole on each side of said pivot pin hole for registering with an axis pin mounting hole in the body part, a removable pivot pin for detachably pivoting said lug part to said actuator at either end of the latter, and a removable axis pin for detachably pivoting said lug part to the body part for operation of the hand lever by manual squeezing pressure to move the actuator and operate the valve.

3. In a valve assembly according to claim 2, a sleeve slidably mounted on said valve actuator and having one end abutting the valve, a screwthread on said actuator, and a lock nut adjustable on said screwthread and abutting the other end of said sleeve, whereby the efiective length of said valve actuator can be varied.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Fulton Sept. 14, 1915 Jimerson Jan. 11, 1927 Jacobson Feb. 22, 1938 Dath May 29, 1951 Clinton Jan. 19, 1954 Miller May 31, 1955 

